Apparatus for attaching controls to manual and power reclining chairs

ABSTRACT

A system and devices for easily converting a manually-operated reclining chair to a power-operated reclining chair, and vice-versa. A mounting plate or ring is installed on the chair which is adapted to removably attach a lever activator or other device for manual operation or powered electrical activation switch, as desired. The mounting plate in circular form is a ring, and the switch is slidingly and rotatably attached and removed by means of tabs on the switch inserted into slots on the mounting ring. Alternatively, the attachment means comprises one or more snap-fit tabs inserted into corresponding slots on the mounting plate or ring. The switch may include a USB or other power port.

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/382,803, filed Sep. 2, 2016, and is entitled to that filing date for priority. The specification, figures, and complete disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/382,803 are incorporated herein in their entireties by specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for interchangeably attaching power controls to manual and power reclining chairs. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching power controls to a manually-operated reclining chair, and vice-versa.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In various embodiments, the present invention comprises a system and devices for easily converting a manually-operated reclining chair to a power-operated reclining chair, and vice-versa. The system comprises a mounting plate or ring installed on the chair which is adapted to removably attach a lever activator or other device for manual operation or powered electrical activation switch, as desired. In one embodiment, the mounting plate is circular (i.e., a ring), and the switch is slidingly and rotatably attached and removed by means of tabs on the switch inserted into slots on the mounting ring. In another embodiment, the attachment means comprises one or more snap-fit tabs inserted into corresponding slots on the mounting plate or ring. With the above-described apparatus, a recliner may be converted from a motorized recliner to a manual recliner, and vice-versa, more easily without the use of tools or fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an exemplary reclining chair having a two-button switch for activating a motorized reclining mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary reclining chair having a flapper lever for operating a manually operated reclining mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a view of a prior art flapper lever mechanism for a manually operating recliner.

FIG. 4 is a view of a prior art two-button switch for a motorized reclining mechanism.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary mounting ring for mounting either a flapper lever or a two button switch.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the mounting ring of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flapper lever housing for use with the mounting ring of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view of the mounting ring of FIG. 5 installed in the arm frame of a reclining chair with a two-button switch.

FIG. 9 is a view of the mounting ring of FIG. 5 installed in the arm frame of a reclining chair with a two-button switch, showing the interior side of the switch.

FIG. 10 is a view of the mounting ring of FIG. 5 installed in the arm frame of a reclining chair with a flapper lever.

FIG. 11 is a view from the interior side of a reclining chair arm frame showing a flapper lever activator installed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the installed flapper lever activator of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the interior side of a reclining chair arm frame showing an electrical activation switch for a motorized reclining mechanism.

FIG. 14 shows the interior side of a mounting plate for a power recliner control wand holder.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 depicts the mounting plate of FIGS. 14 and 15 with a power recliner control wand in the holder.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mounting plate with cover insert.

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the mounting plate of FIG. 17 with an alternative embodiment of an insertable electrical activation switch.

FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the electrical activation switch of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a bottom perspective view of the switch paddle for the electrical activation switch of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the electrical activation switch of FIG. 18 with the switch paddle installed.

FIG. 22 is a view of the electrical activation switch of FIG. 21 being inserted into the mounting plate of FIG. 17.

FIG. 23 is a view of the electrical activation switch of FIG. 21 partially inserted into the mounting plate of FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 is a view of the electrical activation switch of FIG. 21 fully inserted into the mounting plate of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The various embodiments of the apparatus and their advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 16 of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the novel features and principles of operation. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

Furthermore, reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a reclining chair 1 having a flapper lever activator 10 installed in a side frame 2 of the chair 1. Manually pulling the flapper lever 11 outward from the chair side 2 activates the reclining mechanism (not shown) inside the chair 1 to extend a footrest and recline the chair's seat back (not shown). Similarly, FIG. 2 shows a motorized reclining chair 1′ having an electrical activation switch 20 installed in the side frame 2. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the flapper lever activator 10 of the prior art comprises a cup housing 15 with a circumferential flange 12 that supports the flapper lever 11 which is connected to lever mechanism 14. When installed the cup housing 15 and lever mechanism 14 are disposed within the interior of the side frame 2. One end of a cable (FIG. 10: 17) is attached to the lever mechanism 14 and the opposite end of the cable 17 is attached to the recliner mechanism. The flapper lever activator 10 is installed in the side frame 2 by screws that are inserted through screw holes 13 defined in the wall of the cup housing 15. Likewise, when the conventional electrical activation switch 20 of the prior art is installed it is also screwed into the side frame 2 of the chair 1 by inserting screws through screw holes 23 defined in a flange of the housing supporting the switches 21 and switch control mechanism housing (FIG. 13: 25) that, when the activation switch is installed, is disposed within the interior or the chair 1. An electrical cord 22 leads from the control mechanism housing 25 to the motor actuator (not shown) that moves the reclining mechanism (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an exemplary mounting plate or ring 30 for installing either a flapper lever activator 10 or an electrical activation switch 20 is shown with a face plate 34 defining an opening 31. The mounting plate may be circular, oval, rectilinear, oblong, polygonal, or other shape. The face plate 34 may be formed from a circular flange 38 that extends radially outward from a ring wall 36. The face plate 34 includes a plurality of arcuate mounting s lots 32 defined through the plate 34 and are circumferentially disposed about the plate 34. The slots 32 preferably include a notch portion 33. In one embodiment, two or more screw holes 37 are defined through the ring wall 36 for mounting the ring 30 in a hole defined within the side frame 2. In other embodiments, screw holes 37 for attached the mounting ring 30 to the side frame 2 may be defined through the face plate 34.

An exemplary flapper lever activator 10′ for use with the mounting ring 30 is illustrated in FIG. 7, where the cup housing 15 comprises a circular flange 12 extending radially outward from the cup housing 15. The figure shows the interior side, with respect to the chair on which the activator is installed, of the activator 10′ and particularly the interiorly disposed face of the flange 12. In this embodiment, the flapper lever activator 10′ includes a plurality of prongs 16 extending perpendicularly from the interior face of the flange 12 and disposed circumferentially about the interior face of the flange 12. Preferably the number and positioning of the prongs 16 corresponds the number of positioning of the slots 32 in the face plate 34 of the mounting ring 30. As seen in the figure, the prongs preferably are formed with a catch defining a ledge.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an exemplary power or electrical activation switch 20′ for a motorized recliner is shown with a circular flange 24 that extends radially outward from a switch control mechanism housing 25. The interior face of the circular flange 24 includes a plurality of prongs 16 disposed circumferentially about the interior face of the flange 24 and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The number and positioning of the prongs 16 correspond to the number and positioning of the arcuate slots in the face plate 34 of the mounting ring 30.

The mounting ring 30 is attached to the side frame 2 of the chair 1 by first forming an opening within the side frame 2 that opens to the interior of the chair 1 and dimensioned to receive the ring wall portion 36 of the mounting ring 30 with the flange 38 seated against the exterior surface of the side frame 2. The mounting ring 30 is secured to the side frame 2 with screws inserted through the screw holes 37.

When installing either the flapper lever activator 10′ or the electrical activation switch 20′, the respective housing structures 15, 25 are then inserted into the opening 31 of the mounting ring 30, and rotated such that the prongs 16 extending from the interior surfaces of the respective circular flanges 12, 22 rotationally align with the notches 33 of the arcuate slots 32. Corresponding prongs 16 are then inserted into corresponding notches 33 in the face plate 34 such that the catches of the prongs 16 extend beyond the interior surface of the face plate 34. The activator/activation switch 10′,20′ is rotated so that the prongs 16 rotate away from the notches 33 within the arcuate slots 32 and the ledges formed by the catches engage the interior surface of the plate 34, locking the activator 10′ or switch 20′ against the mounting ring 30. The flapper lever activator 10′ or electrical switch 20′ may be removed by rotating the flange 12, 22 in the opposite direction and disengaging the catches from the interior surface of the face plate 34 until the prongs 16 are disposed within the notches 33 freeing the catches and allowing the activator 10′ or switch 20′ to be withdrawn from the ring 30.

In another embodiment, the mounting ring 30 is formed with two or more notches 35 defined in the face plate 34 and opening to the ring wall 36. As shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, flanges 12, 22 include tabs 18 extending perpendicularly from the respective interior surfaces of the flanges 12, 22. The tabs are formed with radially outward-pointing catches that comprise ledges. In this embodiment, to install manual activator 10′ or an electrical activation switch 20′, the tabs 18 are inserted into the notches 35. The tabs 18 comprise a resilient member that may be slightly deformed radially inward but the catches are biased radially outward. When the catches travel past the edge of the ring wall 36 facing the interior of the chair 1, the ledges engage the interior edges of the ring wall 36, locking the respective manual activator 10′ or electrical switch 20′ to the mounting ring 30. To remove, the tabs 18 may be pressed radially inwardly so that the catches disengage the ring wall 36 and the activator 10′ or switch 20′ may be withdrawn from the mounting ring 30.

It will be appreciated that with the above-described apparatus, a recliner may be converted from a motorized recliner to a manual recliner more easily without the use of tools or fasteners.

FIG. 14 depicts yet another embodiment comprising a mounting plate 40 having a plurality of prongs 16 extending perpendicularly from an interior surface of the plate 40 and disposed circumferentially toward the periphery of the plate 40. The number and positioning of the prongs 16 correspond to the number and positioning of the arcuate slots 32 in the face plate 34 of the mounting ring 30. The plate 40 is configured with a hole defined through it. The exterior surface of the plate 40 is formed with a holder 41 dimensioned to receive a power recliner control wand 43. The holder 41 may comprise two opposing brackets 41 a, b extending outward from the exterior surface of the plate 40.

It will be appreciated that a power recliner may then be easily converting from one with an electrical activation switch 10′ to one employing a control wand 43 by removing the switch assembly 10′ as discussed above, and disconnecting the switch lead 22. The control wand lead 44 is inserted through the hole in the holder mounting plate 40 and then through the opening 31 in the mounting ring 30 and connected to power recliner motor. The mounting plate 40 is installed in the same manner as discussed above and the control wand 43 may be seated in the holder 41. It will also be appreciated that a manual recliner may also be easily converted to a power recliner controlled by a control wand 43 in a similar manner.

FIGS. 17-24 show an alternative embodiment of an electrical activation switch 120 (with a rocker switch paddle 124) and mounting plate 130. The switch may comprise one or more USB or power ports 150. The mounting plate 132 is adapted to fit inside a corresponding opening in the side frame 2 that opens to the interior of the chair 1, as described above. The mounting plate has a plurality of holes 132 for securing the plate to the chair by screws or other fastening means known in the art. A cover insert 140 may be removably affixed to the mounting plate (by snap fit or by screws or bolts inserted through mounting holes 142).

The electrical activation switch 120 snap-fits into the mounting plate by means of two or more snap-fit tabs 122 along the sides of the switch, which snap into corresponding slots in the mounting plate. Conversely, the snap-fit tabs may be positioned on the mounting plate, with corresponding slots on the switch.

As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present invention comprises an apparatus for attaching controls to manual and power reclining chairs. While particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood, however, that any invention appertaining to the apparatus described is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples described herein have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for conversion of recliner chairs, comprising: a mounting plate mounted on a side of a recliner chair; an electrical activation switch; attachment means to removably attach and detach the electrical activation switch from the mounting plate without the use of tools or separate fasteners; an activation lever; and attachment means to removably attach and detach the activation lever from the mounting plate without the use of tools or separate fasteners.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is a ring.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is an oval.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is rectilinear or oblong.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical activation switch attachment means and the activation lever attachment means are the same.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of slots positioned circumferentially on the mounting plate, and a plurality of corresponding prongs positioned on the electrical activation switch or activation lever.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of prongs positioned circumferentially on the mounting plate, and a plurality of corresponding slots positioned on the electrical activation switch or activation lever.
 8. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one snap-fit slot positioned on the mounting plate, and at least one corresponding snap-fit tab positioned on a side or bottom of the electrical activation switch or activation lever.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one snap-fit tab positioned on the mounting plate, and at least one corresponding snap-fit slot positioned on a side or bottom of the electrical activation switch or activation lever.
 10. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises two snap-fit slots positioned on the mounting plate, and two corresponding snap-fit tabs positioned on opposing sides of the electrical activation switch or activation lever.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical control cord adapted to be attached to the electrical activation switch.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrical activation switch further comprises a USB port.
 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power recliner control wand holder.
 14. A system for conversion of recliner chairs, comprising: a mounting plate mounted on a side of a recliner chair; an electrical activation switch; attachment means to removably attach and detach the electrical activation switch from the mounting plate without the use of tools or separate fasteners. 